Meat inspection device



Feb 12,1935. F, w GAGE 1,991,31

MEAT INSPECTI 0N DEVICE Original F iled Dec. 22, 1955 fiederzbk W GayeINVENTOR 'Wz'znzss BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 12,1935

Frederick Wallace Gage, Milwaukee, Wis assignor of one-half to Swift andCompanyJJhicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original applicationDecember 22, 1933, Serial No.

703,589. Divided and this application September 20, 1934, Serial No.744,807

2 Claims.

This inventionrelates to a device for detecting internal bruises inmeats. This application is a division of my copending applicationentitled Method andmeans for testing meat, Serial 7 g from one to fourtimes.

No. 108,589, filed December 22, 1933.

Various methods and devices have been proposed from time to time tofacilitate the detection of internal bruises and other discolorations inhams and the like. The present application ree lates to a novel devicefor the detection of internal bruises in meat and includes means Wherebyabsorbent material may be inserted in the interior of the meat mass andsubsequently withdrawn for inspection of discoloration indicating thepresence of internal bruises.

Referring now to the drawing: a

Figure 1 is a front view of the device ready for use.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1. g

The device shown, in the drawing is a preferred embodiment of theinvention and 'is of simple, inexpensive construction.

Needle shank 1 is mounted in handle 2 and may be riveted or otherwisesecured as at-3. Ferrule 4, which may be of cast aluminum or othersuitable material, is provided with guides 5 and 6 in which are drilledholes '7 and 8 respectively.

f For ordinary purposes inch holes are approbleached white yarn isthreaded through hole '7,

eye 13 and hole 8. The point 9 of the needle is thrust into. the meat asuflicient distance to carry the absorbent thread'14 into the portion ofthe mass which it is desired to test;

,In testing the ordinary ham, the meat is pierced k Each time the threadis pulled up several inches to expose aclean portion of the thread.After withdrawal the thread is inspected for blood stains and the like;It will be noted that the construction of the needle point provides ashoulder 15 immediately above the point 9 and below the eye 13, thusproviding protection for the thread at the point of greatest strain; 7

namely, contiguous to the eye 13. r

In ordinary operation, the spool or ball of yarn is placed in acontainer adjacent to the operator. The inspection needle is heldin theright hand and the free end of the yarn in the left. The needleisplunged into the meat, and withdrawn with the righthand, the left handthen pulling the yarn forward from two to four inches.

In this manner, meat may be quickly inspected, the yarn being advancedlength by length and thus readily inspected after each insertion.

I claim: r

1. A device of the class described, comprising a handle, a needlemounted therein, an eye in said needle and guides on opposite sides ofsaid handle whereby a continuous length of thread may be held insubstantially parallel relationship on each side of the needle. I

2. A device of the class described comprising a handle, a needle mountedtherein, thread guides mounted on opposite sides of said handle, an eyeFREDERICK WALLACE GAGE.

